The Costa Rican Town Las Catalinas Announced the Opening of Plaza Central

Sep 25, 2016

LAS CATALINAS ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF PLAZA CENTRAL AND SEVERAL OTHER EXCITING UPDATES FOR THE FORTHCOMING SEASON

Referred to as one of the most important and beautiful new towns in the world by renowned Notre Dame School of Architecture Professor Douglas Duany, Las Catalinas welcomes the highly anticipated Plaza Central opening along with various other exciting news and developments for the fall.

Located steps from the beach in the heart of the Beach Town neighborhood with sweeping ocean views, Plaza Central is a four-story mixed-use building that will have shops ranging from a grocery market to clothing boutiques and furnishing stores on the first two levels and seven new signature Oceanview Residences available for sale and for rent on the upper levels. The new residences range from $475,000 (1 bedroom) to $1.25 million (3 bedroom), and each has at least one ocean view master suite bedroom. All are impeccably designed with multi-panel door systems secretly pocketed into the walls, allowing the main living spaces to open up completely, allowing for unobstructed views to the Pacific Ocean.

In other news, CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) management consulting firm ConnectOcean recently joined the Las Catalinas community with marine themed initiatives focusing on education and environmental awareness. Founder and CEO Ernst Van der Poll is an ocean explorer and PADI course director with more than 10,000 dives in his lifetime. Before moving to Costa Rica, Van der Poll spent 14 years in the Middle East and founded the first marine themed experiential learning program in that region, and has since founded one of the first all-ability diving programs in Central America, helping people with life changing injuries enjoy the ocean through scuba diving. Furthermore, the ConnectOcean Citizen & Science Outreach Expeditions allow the “ordinary citizen” to explore some of nature’s most diverse and scenic locations all over the world while working alongside local activists and research institutions to gain a deeper understanding of the diverse ecosystems and marine life.

Las Catalinas is also gearing up for its 5th annual SUP Competition this November, which is certain to draw standup paddleboard enthusiasts from all over the world. In conjunction with Pura Vida Ride, Las Catalinas offers one of the globe’s greatest playgrounds for watersports and trail fanatics alike. Specializing in the rental and sale of standup paddle boards, mountain bikes, kayaks and various other ocean and mountain sports equipment, Pura Vida Ride is located on Playa Danta in the heart of Las Catalinas and not only offers lessons and expeditions, but is also a full service bike repair shop and general store serving coffee, pastries, drinks and snacks. With its commitment to providing residents and visitors access to the natural and sporting wonders of the land, Las Catalinas together with Pura Vida Ride provide a special and truly unique place where people can enjoy first class sporting activities with ease.

About the city of Las Catalinas

Located in the pristine and exotic Guanacaste peninsula with its unparalleled wildlife and geographic wonders, Las Catalinas is in the process of being built as a compact, walk-able beach town — an inclusive community without gates using design and architecture to increase pedestrian traffic and encourage community engagement. Las Catalinas town infrastructure began in 2009, and the first houses and commercial buildings started construction in 2011.

The houses, shops, restaurants, small hotels, pedestrian streets, plazas, parks, and recreational facilities of Las Catalinas together support a way of life that is healthy, sustainable, fulfilling and fun. It is a place where it is easy to connect with other people, and with nature itself. All elements are arranged to create a series of public spaces interwoven with nature; architecture is adapted for outdoor living, and motorized vehicles are refreshingly absent. A constant ebb and flow of fellow residents and visitors enrich the scene, and every home frames incredible views. On one side, the town is embraced by over 1,000 acres of spectacular tropical dry forest hills and valleys with extensive hiking, biking, and horseback trails. On the other side is the Pacific Ocean and two of the finest beaches in all of Costa Rica with great swimming, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, boogie boarding and snorkeling.